Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister inform us is he aware of any time lines out there where decisions of that nature will be made. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the honourable Stephen Kakfwi, the Minister for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, last week I questioned the Minister on the declining Peary caribou population and he responded that he was working closely with the aboriginal group in coming up with solutions. I wonder if the Minister could expand on that. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is whether they are still willing to go to extremes. Last year, there was talk of flying some of these caribou down to Calgary. I would like to know from the Minister whether those options are still being considered or what exactly is the department willing to do to off set the declining population?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have indications that the Peary caribou on the western High Arctic Islands have taken the first step towards recovery, as our surveys have recorded, calves in both Melville and Bathurst Islands in July of this year. However, wolves remain on Bathurst Island and muskox show no recovery. There are no calves seen in the muskox herd. We have a sense, as I said last week, that wolf predation may become a factor with the Peary caribou. Our studies indicate that range conditions on Bathurst Island are more than adequate for recovery of the Peary caribou. We are planning to have a survey done of the Peary caribou in the eastern High Arctic Islands in March/April of the coming year.

As a government, we will continue to work with the future government of Nunavut, the Wildlife Management Advisory Council of the Northwest Territories, as well as the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to consider options for the recovery and management of Peary and Arctic Island caribou. We will look at these options only after the surveys are completed in March and April of this year. I do not know that those options of looking at capturing caribou and taking them to the Calgary Zoo is still on that list of options. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister indicate whether there are any studies being done on the Peary caribou population on Banks Island?

Mr. Speaker, the information I have is that in spite of the fact that the Sachs Harbour hunters have reduced their harvest of caribou on Banks Island, and they have done that since 1991, our surveys indicate that there is no measurable recovery yet indicated of the caribou on that island. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I take it that the wildlife service will be working with the Inuvialuit Game Council to address this declining herd on Sachs Harbour, Banks Island. What I am concerned about, Mr. Speaker, is the department at the present time considering any measures or any future studies for both the Peary caribou and wolves on Banks Island?

Mr. Speaker, we are doing surveys on the muskox on Banks Island as well as the caribou. They said there is no indication that the caribou population is recovering. We have indications that the number of muskox on Banks Island have decreased but the population of the wolves has increased dramatically. The study is being finalized and will be used by the different management boards in March and April of this year to finalize whatever plans may be developed for assisting in the recovery of the caribou and the muskox on those islands. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the department is aware that the Peary caribou on Banks Island have been declining now for almost 20 years. I am not aware of any ongoing studies, that is what I am trying to find out. Are there any ongoing studies which would happen every year which would assure that the populations are being monitored of both muskox, caribou, wolves, on an ongoing basis to assure people that there is an effort being made by the department to have an ongoing study of this particular caribou species? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. There were surveys done, I believe in July of this year, in regard to the caribou, the muskox as well as observations on the wolf population. We can share the survey findings with the Member as well any information I may have about ongoing surveys being done or planned for the coming year, for that particular area. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for Mr. Todd, responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. We discussed this last week and over the weekend had an opportunity to review the annual report for 1997 for the Workers' Compensation Board. Under the heading of Division, it states that four options were developed for delivery of WCB programs after division and that five operational models were designed to clarify the feasibility and implications of one WCB and two WCBs. There was an option of one and two. I wonder if the Minister could tell us if he might be able to get those reports for us and table them in the House so that Members can review them? Thank you.